Robert Whittaker was caught off guard when Khamzat Chimaev pulled out of their UFC Saudi Arabia bout. Ikram Aliskerov, a rising middleweight fighter, stepped in to take Chimaev’s place, a name Whittaker hadn’t come across before. Despite the sudden switch, Whittaker maintains confidence in his skills and ability to adapt to new opponents.
Aliskerov, relatively new to the UFC scene with two quick knockout victories, has been gaining attention. Nevertheless, Whittaker remains undaunted, trusting in his capacity to adjust his strategy and dictate the fight’s pace. Even though the change meant transitioning from a high-profile match to facing a lesser-known challenger, Whittaker never hesitated to accept the challenge.
“Doing this is my livelihood,” Whittaker said. “That’s the bottom line. I get to pursue my passion and provide for my family. This is what I was meant to do, and I will do it.”
Whittaker’s primary focus is on winning the upcoming fight and leveraging it to unlock future opportunities for himself. The UFC Saudi Arabia event is scheduled for this Saturday at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.
